Galen Rupp planning to run 10,000 meters in Friday night portion of the Prefontaine Classic

Former University of Oregon star Galen Rupp, originally scheduled to run the two-mile in Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field, is instead planning to join a great field of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners for the 10,000 meters on Friday night.

Alberto Salazar, Rupp’s coach, said Tuesday that Rupp will run the 10,000 unless high pollen counts threaten to trigger his allergies; the forecast of a damp week in Eugene left Salazar encouraged that Rupp will get a chance to race.

Billed as “Distance Night in Eugene” by Pre Classic meet director Tom Jordan, the Friday night races will be free and open to the public. The events will consist of a combined 25,000 and 30,000 meters race at 6:40 p.m., a women’s 5,000 at 8:25 p.m. and the men’s 10,000 at 8:50 p.m.

The men’s 10,000 is expected to be a fast race because it will include a key contingent of runners from Ethiopia and Kenya and will be used by those countries to help selected the teams for the World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Korea in August.